Rockets’ Teasdale wins 4th WPIAL title
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale drives through Derry Area’s Shawn Broadway during their match in the 126-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Teasdale became the 28th four-time district champion with an 18-4 major decision and won the Outstanding Wrestler Award for the tournament.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Frazier’s Thayne Lawrence is in control of Burrell’s Corey Christie during the match in the 152-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Lawrence won the match, 9-0, for his second district title.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Bentworth’s Jon Vargo grabs the ankle of McGuffey’s Luke Shingle and pressures forward during their match in the 182-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Vargo edged Shingle, 1-0, to win his first district title.
Jefferson-Morgan's Gavin Teasdale lifts a single leg in an attempt to takedown Derry Area's Shawn Broadway during their match in the 126-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Teasdale defeated Broadway, 18-4, to capture his fourth district title, which is something only 27 other wrestlers have achieved.
Frazier's Thayne Lawrence controls Burrell's Corey Christie during the match in the 152-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Lawrence, a sophomore, won the bout, 9-0, for his second district title in as many years.
Bentworth's Jon Vargo brings McGuffey's Luke Shingle down to the mat during their match in the 182-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Vargo won the bout, 1-0, for his first WPIAL championship.
Jonathan Guth | Herald-Standard
Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale is about to spin behind Derry Area’s Shawn Broadway for a takedown during their match in the 126-pound weight class on Feb. 17 in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Teasdale seeks his fourth state championship when wrestling begins this morning in the PIAA Class Individual Championships at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Frazier's Thayne Lawrence has legs in on Burrell's Corey Christie during the match in the 152-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Lawrence, a sophomore, won the match, 9-0, for his second district title in as many years.
Bentworth's Jon Vargo controls McGuffey's Luke Shingle during their bout in the 182-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Vargo won the match, 1-0, for his first WPIAL championship.
Jefferson-Morgan's Gavin Teasdale stands atop the podium after winning the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championship on Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School. Teasdale became the 28th wrestling to win four WPIAL titles.
Bentworth's Jon Vargo has his hand raised after defeating McGuffey's Luke Shingle in the 182-pound weight class to win his first WPIAL title on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School.
Southmoreland's Tyler Griffiths has a single leg on South Side Area's Joe Demor during their match in the 145-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School. Demor fought off the takedown attempt and downed Griffiths, 5-3, to win the WPIAL title.
Mount Pleasant's Al Miscovich shoots in for a takedown against Freedom’s Trent Schultheis during their match in the 132-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School.
Southmoreland's Jaden Datz (right) ties up with McGuffey's Christian Clutter during their match in the 170-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School.
Mount Pleasant's Al Miscovich attempts to finish a takedown against Freedom's Trent Schultheis during their match in the 132-pound weight class on Saturday in the WPIAL Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School.
CANONSBURG — Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale became the 28th wrestler in the history of the WPIAL to win four district championships with Saturday’s Class AA Individual Championship in the 126-pound weight class at Canon-McMillan High School.
Frazier’s Thayne Lawrence and Bentworth’s Jon Vargo also won titles. Nineteen other area wrestlers finished between second and seventh place to qualify for the PIAA Class AA Southwestern Regional Tournament Friday and Saturday at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Ed Frey Arena inside the Kovalchick Convention & Athletic Complex.
The Rocket senior and Penn State University recruit improved his season record to 32-2, and has a 154-2 career mark. He also was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler.
“I really didn’t think about being a four-time WPIAL champion,” Teasdale said. “I really just look at it as another event and take it one match at a time.
“It is a goal I have had since I was younger, but I figure if I outwork everyone, the championships should come. I know I can’t control being the OW (Most Outstanding Wrestler), so I really don’t worry about it one way or another. I’m just focused on wrestling the best I can every match.”
Teasdale defeated Derry Area’s Shawn Broadway by an 18-4 major decision in the finals. He pinned Broadway in the Section 2-AA finals on Friday, but knew that Broadway would do his best to slow down the pace of the match.
“I figure going into my matches that they are going to try and keep matches close with me, and try to back off of me,” Teasdale said. “You really can’t worry about that and I am going to keep wrestling my style and go after guys.
“I really worked on my turns here, and I know that I have to be good on top and bottom. I was doing a lot of takedowns and letting guys up last year, but now I am working on taking guys down and trying to get turns.”
Teasdale was awarded a bye in the first round as the No. 1 seed, and pinned South Fayette’s Gary Loeffler (1:26) in the quarterfinals. He earned an 18-1 technical fall in 3:10 over Burgettstown’s Austin Ryan in the semifinals.
“I don’t think I wrestled like I could of,” Teasdale said. “I figured if I kept up the pace it would wear on the games.”
Lawrence (23-1, 60-7) won his second title in as many years with a 9-0 major decision over Burrell’s Corey Christie at 152.
Lawrence, a sophomore, was tough on top using power half nelson’s and claw holds to wear down Christie. He received a bye in the first round as the top seed, and pinned South Fayette’s Dalton Hirt in 1:36 to advance to the semifinals.
Lawrence earned a 17-2 technical fall in 3:01 over Quaker Valley’s Austin Dohl to reach the finals.
“I felt more calm this year than last season,” Lawrence said. “I am pretty confident in my abilities, and if I can keep it up, hopefully I can win four WPIAL titles. I feel really good on top and bottom. I had trouble turning guys last year, but I feel like I am doing well with it this year. I feel like I have improved on my feet this season.
“I know there are going to be a lot of tough guys at the regional tournament and states, but I still feel confident in my abilities moving forward. I am just going to take it one at a time and not think too far ahead.”
Vargo (26-6, 62-27) won his first WPIAL title with a 1-0 decision over McGuffey’s Luke Shingle at 182. He escaped in the second period and rode Shingle the entire third for the close victory. After receiving a bye into the quarterfinals as the top seed, Vargo picked up a 17-1 technical fall in 5:56 over South Fayette’s Joe Bastaroli before earning a 6-0 decision over Burrell’s Ricky Feroce to advance to the finals.
“I work hard every day and practice all the time, sometimes two times a night just to get better,” Vargo said. “You just have to keep grinding on top, make sure I am controlling his arms and having forward pressure.
“I just took it one at a time. It really doesn’t matter the seed or what you are ranked at. You just have to go out there and wrestle your match. I am excited to wrestle next week at the regional tournament. I qualified last year, but didn’t get to states. I hope I am able to wrestle a great tournament and advance to Hershey.”
Four locals lost in the finals, but will still travel to IUP with a chance to qualify for the state tournament at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Mount Pleasant’s Al Miscovich dropped a 5-3 decision to Freedom’s Trent Schultheis in the finals at 132.
Southmoreland’s Tyler Griffiths was denied a third WPIAL title following a 5-3 setback to South Side Area’s Joe Demor at 145. Teammate Jaden Datz was edged, 1-0, by McGuffey’s Christian Clutter at 170.
West Greene’s Connor Main dropped a 5-0 decision to Derry Area’s Dominic DeLuca at 220.
Bentworth’s Manny Dovshek (3rd at 120) and Ashton Lopez (3rd at 220); Beth-Center’s Jimmy Gwyer (6th at 120), Jacob Baker (5th at 195) and Ronnie White (6th at 285), Elizabeth Forward’s Ryan Michaels (3rd at 106), Jordan Devine (5th at 120) and Noah Hunnell (6th at 138); Jefferson-Morgan’s Josh Agnew (6th at 132) and Nathan Bilonick (7th at 138); Mount Pleasant’s Damian George (4th at 106), Doug Bittner (3rd at 113), Zack Charlesworth (4th at 195) and Cody Vokes (3rd at 285); and Southmoreland’s Ryan Mauro (4th at 220) all advanced to the regional tournament.
Warriors coach Rich Scheuermann won the Section 2-AA Coach of the Year Award.